Scythe-fastener



W. F. JOHNSTON.

SCYTHE FASTENER.

Arrucmou FILED sumo. 1920' Patented Jan. 18, 1921.

M mmvron I L l' fohnston,

S f M M T I W ,4 TTORIVEYS WILLIAM FONTAINE JOHNSTON, or RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

SCYTHE-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 18, 1921.

Application filed September 30, 1920. Serial No. 413,742.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM FONTAINE JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Richmond in the county of Chesterfield and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Scythe-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fasteners for securing scythes to snathes and the purpose of my invention is the provision of a fastener of that characterwhich positively secures the scythes to the snathes and without subjecting the snathe to any pressure or stresses whereby distortion or wear of the snathe is prevented so that the possibility of its becoming weakened and breaking is eliminated.

I will describe one form of scythe fastener embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanyin drawings:

Figure 1 is a view s owing in front elevation a portion of a conventional form of snathe and scythe having applied thereto one form of fastener embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2- -2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring specifically to the drawin s, in which similar reference characters re er to similar parts, S designates a snathe to the flat side of which is secured a rectangular strip or plate of metal B. In the present instance the plate B is secured to the snathe S by means of bolts 15 which extend through the plate at points adjacent its opposite ends so as to securely retain the plate upon the snathe. Snugly embracing the snathe S is a oke or bracket K which, as illustrated to advantage in Fig. 3, is substantially of the same general outline as the cross sectional contour of the snathe. As shown in Fig. 3,

the curved portion of the yoke K is desig nated at 16 and is provided intermediate its ends with an opening surrounded by a collar 16, the wall of the opening and the inner side of the collar being screw threaded to receive a set screw R. The linear portion of the yoke K is designated at 17, and in the applied position of the yoke such linear port1on is disposed in spaced parallel relation to the plate B, with the curved portion 16 embracing the curved portion of the snathe S.

As shown in Fig. 3, the set screw R extends throu h a suitable opening formed in the snathe so that its inner end is disposed to abut the inner side of the plate B. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the plate B is provided with a set of lugs L at a point above the yoke K, and with another set of lugs L at a point below the yoke K. As shown in Fig. 1, the set of lugs L have their working faces arranged in the form of an arc, while the contact faces of the set of lu s L are all arranged in the same plane. 'lhese lugs L and L are adapted to contact with the edges of a shank A of the scythe blade C to lock the shank against lateral movement 11 on the plate B. The free end of the shank is provided with the usual lip 18 which [its within a suitable recess formed in the plate.

In the application of the scythe shank to the fastener, it is inserted between the plate B and the linear portion 17 of the yoke K with its op osite ed es engaging the lugs L and L. ith the s ank A in this position, and the inner endof the set screw R abutting the plate B, it will be clear that upon further inward movement of the set screw a movement of the entire yoke in the opposite direction is effected thus drawing the linear portion 17 inthe direction of the shank A so as to securely yoke and plate.

It is to be particularly noted that by virtue of this arrangement and operation the snathe S is never subjected to the pressure of the set screw nor the grip ing action of the bracket so that the possibility of the snathe distorted, worn or broken is elimibecomin I consider this an important object nated.

of my invention because in all scythe fasteners with which I am familiar their construction is such that after repeated use the snathe becomes worn, distorted or broken thus necessitating the employment of a new snathe. It is to be further noted that as the inner end of the set screw R normally abuts or engages the inner side of the plate B, that in clamping position, the set screw, because of its frictional engagement with the plate, is locked against accidental turning so that the bracket is maintained in clamping position.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of scythe fastener embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the grip the shank between the spirit of the invention or the spirit and scope of the appended claims. I

What I claim is:

l. A scythe fastener comprising-a plate adapted to be secured to the fiat side of a snathe, snathe shank engaging projections formed on the plate, a yoke adapted to embrace a snathe in such manner that a portion thereof is disposed in spaced relation to said plate to permit the insertion of a scythe shank between the plate and yoke, and a set screw threadedly mounted within the yoke adapted to extend through the snathe and to engage the inner side of the plate so that when fed inwardly the yoke will be moved in the direction of the plate to clamp the scythe shank between the yoke and plate.

2. A scythe fastener comprising, a plate adapted to be secured to the flat side of a snathe, a yoke adapted to embrace the snathe and having a linear portion disposed in spaced relation to said plate, and means for moving said yoke and plate into clamping engagement with each other.

3. A scythe fastener comprising, a yoke, a, plate extending through the yoke, and means carried by the yoke and engageable with the plate for forcing the two into clamping ongagement with each other.

WILLIAM FONTAINE JOHNSTON. 

